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From the
http://www.courier.co.uk 9 September 2011. By Tonbridge Courier.
No-show by campaigners helps seal town pub's fate.
THAT WAS THEN: Residents who protested against the closure of The Red
House pub in Tonbridge.
A FOURTH pub in north Tonbridge will shut down after locals failed to
convince the council it should stay open.
A group of Higham Wood residents campaigned against the demolition of
the "Red House" and gained 241 signatures on a petition.
But not one local turned up to a key council meeting where councillors
approved plans for 14 houses to be built on the site.
Councillor for the area Andy Alison expressed disappointment when they
did not attend Thursday's Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council planning
meeting.
"Sentiment comes into this," he said.
"They talk a good talk but they haven't come here. And as we have heard
it is not a viable business, we cannot find any good reason to keep this
pub open."
Town planner Neil Hewitt, who also belongs to the Campaign for Real Ale
(CAMRA), said he "felt like Judas" when he recommended the pub be
demolished.
He said: "It is sad when pubs close and I say that as a fully-fledged
member of CAMRA. I feel like Judas when I say that, but one has to face
reality and that is where we are."
The site has been a public house since 1955 and the "Red House" is now the
fourth pub in north Tonbridge to close in a year.
It follows the demise of the "Greyhound," demolished to make way for
flats, the "Bishops Oak," quickly turned into a Sainsbury's store, and
the
"Pinnacles," which remains derelict.
Locals had claimed the "Red House" landlord told them the pub was making
money.
But at the meeting Nick Hales, of developer Deacon Properties, argued
previous owner Punch Taverns would not have sold the pub if it was a
viable business.
He said a "stay at home" culture had killed the pub's trade.
Councillor Christopher Smith said it was "tragic" to see another pub
closing. "A number are now lying derelict in this northern part of
Tonbridge," he said.
"The heart of a community is supposed to be its pub and unfortunately it
seems that this community don't really want their pub – despite the
signatures that came down there – they are not going into this pub and
supporting it."
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